Irish by birth, he embarked for Jamaica
aboard the Eliza, and was taken prisoner when
the ship was captured (November 1778).

With Franklin’s assistance, he entered on
board the Bonhomme Richard as secretary to
John Paul Jones (March 1779). Following a
dispute with Jones, he was transferred to the
Vengeance (August 1779), and eventually
received a share of the squadron’s prize money.